The first rays of the morning sun slipped through the curtains, filling the room with a warm golden glow.
Normally, by this time, Mayank would already be running around the house, laughing loudly as he searched for his favorite toys.
But today...
The house was unusually quiet.
Mia gently opened the bedroom door with a small smile.
"Good morning, my little puppy..."
No answer.
She walked closer.
Mayank was still asleep, hugging his little Iron Man toy tightly against his chest.
"That's strange..." she murmured.
She slowly sat beside him and placed her hand on his forehead.
The smile on her face disappeared instantly.
His body was burning.
"Mayank!"
He slowly opened his eyes.
His cheeks were slightly red, and his breathing was heavier than usual.
"Mama..."
His voice sounded weak.
Mia immediately took out the thermometer from the bedside drawer.
Within a few seconds, it beeped.
101.8°F
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Fever..."
She immediately brought a bowl of lukewarm water and gently placed a wet cloth on his forehead.
"It's okay, sweetheart," she whispered, forcing herself to smile. "Mama's here."
Mayank simply closed his eyes again.
He didn't even have the strength to argue.
A few minutes later, Mia prepared medicine and a small bowl of warm porridge.
"My baby," she said softly, sitting beside him again. "Come on... just a few spoons."
Mayank slowly turned his face away.
"No..."
"You need to eat."
"No..."
"Then at least take your medicine."
Again...
"No."
His tiny voice carried no anger.
Only sadness.
Mia's heart tightened.
She gently held his little hand.
"My sweet boy... don't do this."
He slowly opened his eyes.
His lips moved weakly.
"I... want..."
Mia immediately leaned closer.
"What do you want, baby?"
His eyes filled with tears.
"I... want... my Iron Man Friend..."
The words shattered her completely.
She lowered her head, unable to stop the tears gathering in her eyes.
Even now...
Even while burning with fever...
He was still thinking about Leo.
She kissed his forehead softly.
"I'm sorry..."
"So, so sorry..."
"If Mama hadn't shouted..."
"If Mama hadn't hit you..."
"You wouldn't be like this."
Outside the room, her father quietly watched everything.
He sighed before walking inside.
"How is he?"
"The fever isn't coming down," Mia answered, her voice trembling.
"He still refuses to eat."
"And he won't take his medicine."
Her father looked at his grandson with worried eyes.
"Mayank..."
The little boy looked toward him.
"Will Grandpa feed you?"
A tiny shake of the head.
"What about one spoon?"
Another shake.
The old man's smile faded.
He looked at Mia.
"He's deeply hurt."
Mia nodded silently.
"I know..."
Hours passed.
The fever refused to go away.
Instead...
It slowly climbed higher.
Mayank's small body began shivering despite being wrapped in a blanket.
His breathing became faster.
His lips had turned slightly dry.
Mia checked his temperature again.
103.4°F
Fear immediately spread across her face.
"No..."
She tried another cold compress.
She gently rubbed his tiny hands.
She spoke to him softly.
Nothing seemed to help.
By afternoon, he hadn't eaten a single bite.
The medicines remained untouched beside the bed.
His favorite chocolates...
Ignored.
His cartoons...
Ignored.
His toys...
Left where they were.
He simply lay there quietly, holding onto his little Iron Man toy.
Mia could no longer stop crying.
She carefully lifted him into her lap.
His burning forehead rested against her shoulder.
"My baby..."
"My little puppy..."
"Please..."
"Please don't punish Mama anymore."
Her tears soaked his tiny shirt.
"I know I made a mistake."
"I know I hurt you."
"But I was scared."
"So scared..."
She kissed his hair again and again.
"I love you more than my own life."
"You are all Mama has."
"Please... look at me once."
Mayank slowly opened his heavy eyes.
He looked at his mother.
He wanted to hug her.
He wanted to tell her he wasn't angry anymore.
But he felt too weak.
Instead...
He quietly rested his head against her shoulder without saying a word.
Mia smiled through her tears.
She thought he had forgiven her.
She quickly held out the spoon again.
"Can you eat a little now?"
Mayank weakly turned his face away.
"No..."
"Medicine?"
Another slow shake.
"Iron..."
His voice trembled.
"...Man Friend..."
Mia closed her eyes tightly.
Every time he called Leo's name, guilt stabbed deeper into her heart.
As evening approached, the fever became even worse.
Mayank's body shivered uncontrollably.
His tiny hands felt ice cold while his forehead burned.
His words became unclear.
"M... Mama..."
She immediately knelt in front of him.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
He tried to say something.
But only broken words came out.
His eyes slowly rolled shut again.
Mia's doctor instincts finally gave way to a mother's panic.
"No more waiting."
She quickly wrapped him in a blanket and lifted him into her arms.
He felt frighteningly hot.
Her father hurried toward the car with the house staff.
"I'll drive," he said.
Mia nodded, unable to speak.
She held Mayank tightly throughout the drive, gently stroking his hair.
"Stay awake, baby..."
"We're almost there."
"You'll be okay."
Her own tears refused to stop.
Mayank weakly tightened his fingers around her dress.
His lips moved ever so slightly.
"Iron..."
"...Man..."
Mia looked out of the car window, crying silently.
"I'm sorry..."
"I promise..."
"I'll do anything."
"Just don't let anything happen to my son."
A few minutes later...
The car came to a sudden stop.
The bright emergency lights of Acharya Multispeciality Hospital reflected across the windshield.
Without wasting another second, Mia rushed out of the car carrying Mayank in her arms.
She had no idea...
That someone she had desperately tried to keep away from her son...
Was already inside the same hospital.
Waiting for fate to bring them together once again.